IEC 60079-29-1:2007

Explosive atmospheres - Part 29-1: Gas detectors - Performance requirements of detectors for flammable gases

Specifies general requirements for construction, testing and performance, and describes the test methods that apply to portable, transportable and fixed apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gas or vapour concentrations with air. The apparatus, or parts thereof, are intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and in mines susceptible to firedamp. This first edition of IEC 60079-29-1 cancels and replaces the first edition of IEC 61779-1 to IEC 61779-5:1998 series and constitutes a technical revision with numerous changes with respect to the previous edition.

Atmosphères explosives - Partie 29-1: Détecteurs de gaz - Exigences d'aptitude à la fonction des détecteurs de gaz inflammables

Spécifie les exigences générales pour la construction, les essais et l'aptitude à la fonction, et décrit les méthodes d'essai qui s'appliquent aux matériels portables, transportables et fixes pour la détection et la mesure des concentrations de gaz ou de vapeurs inflammables dans l'air. Les matériels, ou parties de ceux-ci, sont destinés à être utilisés dans des atmosphères potentiellement explosives et dans les mines grisouteuses. Cette première édition de la CEI 60079-29-1 annule et remplace la première édition de la série CEI 61779-1 à la CEI 61779-5:1998 et constitue une révision technique avec beaucoup modifications par rapport à l'édition précédente.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-Aug-2007
• ICS: 29.260.20 - Electrical apparatus for explosive atmospheres
• Technical Committee: TC 31 - Equipment for explosive atmospheres
• Drafting Committee: MT 60079-29 - TC 31/MT 60079-29
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 21-Jul-2016

Relations

• Replaces: IEC 61779-2:1998 - Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gases - Part 2: Performance requirements for group I apparatus indicating a volume fraction up to 5 % methane in air
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaces: IEC 61779-4:1998 - Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gases - Part 4: Performance requirements for group II apparatus indicating up to 100% lower explosive limit
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaces: IEC 61779-3:1998 - Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gases - Part 3: Performance requirements for group I apparatus indicating a volume fraction up to 100 % methane in air
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaces: IEC 61779-1:1998 - Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gases - Part 1: General requirements and test methods
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Replaces: IEC 61779-5:1998 - Electrical apparatus for the detection and measurement of flammable gases - Part 5: Performance requirements for group II apparatus indicating a volume fraction up to 100 % gas
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 60079-29-1:2016 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 29-1: Gas detectors - Performance requirements of detectors for flammable gases
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 60079-29-1:2007/ISH1:2009 - Intrepretation sheet 1 - Explosive atmospheres - Part 29-1: Gas detectors - Performance requirements of detectors for flammable gases
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60079-29-1
Edition 1.0 2007-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 29-1: Gas detectors – Performance requirements of detectors for flammable
gases
Atmosphères explosives –
Partie 29-1: Détecteurs de gaz – Exigences d’aptitude à la fonction des
détecteurs de gaz inflammables

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IEC 60079-29-1
Edition 1.0 2007-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Explosive atmospheres –
Part 29-1: Gas detectors – Performance requirements of detectors for flammable
gases
Atmosphères explosives –
Partie 29-1: Détecteurs de gaz – Exigences d’aptitude à la fonction des
détecteurs de gaz inflammables

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
X
CODE PRIX
ICS 29.260.20 ISBN 2-8318-9249-X

TC 31/Publication 60079-29-1 (2007), First edition/I-SH 01

EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES –
Part 29-1: Gas detectors – Performance requirements
of detectors for flammable gases

INTERPRETATION SHEET 1
This interpretation sheet has been prepared by IEC technical committee 31: Equipment
for explosive atmospheres.
The text of this interpretation sheet is based on the following documents:
ISH Report on voting
31/809/ISH 31/817/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this interpretation sheet can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
___________
There has been a request for formal interpretation of the drop test fail criterion in the
performance standard IEC 60079-29-1 (2007), Subclause 5.4.14.

The fail criterion is:
“The apparatus shall be considered to have failed this test if there is a loss of function
(e.g. alarm, pump function, controls, display) after the test”.

Question:
Is the interpretation of this text, that the loss of function, even in a short period during the
interruption and until restart of the equipment will fail the test? Or is a permanent loss of
function needed to fail the equipment, e.g. a broken display or a pump, which cannot
restart?
Bouncing of a battery spring in the moment of impact can cause the drop out of power in
battery supplied equipment, and make it shut down. Is this considered as sufficient to fail
the test? Or would it be sufficient safe situation for the user if the equipment could restart
and show the correct measurement?

Interpretation:
Any loss of function after the test including any change of state is considered a failure
since there is continued dependency on the life safety device even under adverse affects
such as an accidental drop of the device during use. Automatic or manual re-starting is
not acceptable.
– 2 – 60079-29-1 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.5
INTRODUCTION.8

1 Scope.9
2 Normative references .10
3 Definitions .10
3.1 Gas properties.10
3.2 Types of instruments .12
3.3 Sensors.13
3.4 Supply of gas to instrument .13
3.5 Signals and alarms.13
3.6 Times .14
3.7 Miscellaneous .14
4 General requirements .15
4.1 Introduction .15
4.2 Construction.16
4.2.1 General .16
4.2.2 Indicating devices.16
4.2.3 Alarm or output functions.17
4.2.4 Fault signals .18
4.2.5 Adjustments .18
4.2.6 Battery-powered apparatus.18
4.2.7 Stand-alone gas detection apparatus for use with separate control
units .18
4.2.8 Separate control units for use with stand-alone gas detection
apparatus .19
4.2.9 Software-controlled apparatus .19
4.3 Labelling and marking .21
4.4 Instruction manual.21
5 Test methods .22
5.1 Introduction .22
5.2 General requirements for tests .22
5.2.1 Samples and sequence of tests .22
5.2.2 Preparation of apparatus before testing .23
5.2.3 Mask for calibration and tests .24
5.3 Normal conditions for test.24
5.3.1 General .24
5.3.2 Test gas(es) .24
5.3.3 Standard test gas .25
5.3.4 Flow rate for test gases .25
5.3.5 Voltage.25
5.3.6 Temperature.25
5.3.7 Pressure.25
5.3.8 Humidity .25
5.3.9 Stabilization time .26
5.3.10 Orientation .26
5.3.11 Communications options.26

60079-29-1 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
5.3.12 Gas detection apparatus as part of systems .26
5.4 Test methods .26
5.4.1 General .26
5.4.2 Unpowered storage .26
5.4.3 Calibration and adjustment .26
5.4.4 Stability (continuous duty apparatus only).27
5.4.5 Stability (spot-reading apparatus only).28
5.4.6 Alarm set point(s) .28
5.4.7 Temperature.29
5.4.8 Pressure.29
5.4.9 Humidity .29
5.4.10 Air velocity .29
5.4.11 Flow rate for aspirated apparatus .30
5.4.12 Orientation .30
5.4.13 Vibration.30
5.4.14 Drop test for portable and transportable apparatus .31
5.4.15 Warm-up time.31
5.4.16 Time of response (not applicable to spot-reading apparatus) .32
5.4.17 Minimum time to operate (spot-reading apparatus) .
...